Littest Pet Shop Advent Calender

City: The Church of St. Mary of the Angels

And presto, an exclusive "made by Strogoff," fresh from mid-September this year. On 11 and 12 month précédemmentionné was again the weekend of European cultural heritage, and therefore the opportunity to visit things that we usually do not visit. And most of all was the opportunity to take pictures, because when there are so many people, the bin round to shoot troublemakers are put on leave. You talk, piss but the poor Strogoff alone yeah, that they know how, but when everything falls their Prague on the saddle, too much work, little income, they blow the fuck peace, these assholes.

short, we went with my friend John, so early in the morning that I even passed the national television (yes, true), and suddenly I have a lot of news as you bend speak of, but Dunno when, as the list grew and grew ... much faster than I can talk to you. That said, our topic today is a huge coincidence that in no part in the context of heritage days, because like ... I tell you. It was returning

therefore our ultimate objective, the new world ( " Novy Svet" ), and we'd like that, that we saw was in the corner, we would be well roteuses throw some well-deserved black beef, one of my favorite holes that I no longer attends occasionally. Indeed, there too regularly officiates a primitive Neanderthal of cosmic proportions, and his insufferable idiocy prehistoric doubled its misanthropy congenital to clients in me cause allergic outbreaks of boils irritating consequences of a murderous urge unsatisfied.

Also my doctor has advised me attendance, beef, to ease my psychosomatic hives. And it passed near the Capuchin monastery, near the tavern, the place of Loreto, we noticed a crowd suspect before entry (in the monastery). Oh yeah, he would visit? So I tell you frankly, at first, I was not keen to go kick the inlays, and for good reason: it was full of brat, a guy dressed as a custodian of peace led the herd, and dressed in a Capuchin friar seemed to serve as a guide. But all this was nothing compared to the maxi-mini-skirt love my baby had had the foresight to put on. Not that I'm prudish, puritanical, or any narrow-minded, especially him whom the same skirt look great because it has beautiful legs, my love, but knowing the rigid principles of the race to the practitioner the exhibition of human body, feminine addition, I told myself that going ask to visit a monastery Capuchin dressed like she was dressed, it was a lost cause at best material condemnatory criticism for sure. Think about it, for those who have visited the Catholic churches of Rome, Venice, and even Prague, have you noticed the number of small signs "No shirt, no shorts, no hat, no skirts, no bare shoulders , no visible knee, no ice, no smoking, no sandwich, no animals, no phone, no nothing ... " inputs?

Well, last month's story to illustrate my point, arrival in the monastery church of "Osek" (you will not to publish because the Cistercians were forbidden to take photos). So I visited the monastery together with the most fabulous guide: "is a painting of the Virgin, here is St Bernard, this house a holy water font, arches, window roman ... I think ... the garden ... and then entering the church " without dec, a fabulous location description. Worse entering the church (following the guide), suddenly I hear behind me "hat!" . Dry as a kick in the ass, bam! "Ah yes, well, that's true, I still have my head bob on" I said. Oh then, eh, what can it do? "Hats j'te say! " I hear more. Then I turned to see who speaks to me as cordially, and I see an old, all dry, the face of vinegar that makes me evil eyes. " We know we ? I asked. "No, take off your hat" he replied. "No need" I said mockingly "Chuis not believing" . And the guys look back " then you have nothing to do here ". So my blood did one lap, but several times from top to bottom, then back, and I humbly confess that the urge to stick my fist in his mouth crossed my mind.

Wait a bad guy in slippers and short shorts would intrude "his" vision of the proper attire, was "me" and thou judge was "my" ability to enter a church? I was rude and insulting as often. I sent him a sentence so insultingly marbled vulgarity he froze, and did not know what to say (if anything). He forgot me for the rest of the visit. An explanation. As far as I can remember, Jesus was a Jew. It is likely that the god is ditto, since Jesus was his son. And as far as I can remember always, the Jews wear a hat in the temples. Explanation two. Especially since I still remember, the house of God is open even the most inveterate sinner. Do you think God, in this case, attach special importance to his appearance (the sinner)? The all-nude clothing (hat, veil, underwear, socks ...) in the holy places is an interpretation, usage and custom, chicanery and intolerance towards certain others (cf. the chapters of Paul to Corinthians, if we really want to stick to the orthodox rule well. ... It's huge conn in the context of the third millennium). Explanation three. Being fanatically atheist, I do not feel concerned by any religious mores and categorically denies that requires them to me.

I never imposed on anyone to withdraw its religious symbols (even distinctive) by entering my house, if not his shoes cities (but it is purely prophylactic and non-religious).

short, I already imagined the reception at the monastery ... But darling love does not deflate, and followed by John, they went to ask the policeman-like if we could join the tour. Well believe it or not, it could. In fact, the good guy was no policeman or peace officer, but Chief Chaplain of the Guard Prague Castle, Captain " Vladimír Hudousek " . And as apparently he organized a visit to the nursery for the kids, he let us go with them. Nice j'dis me. As for the capuchin, a good little old with a nice face capuchin and Moravian accent pronounced ben Dunno who it was, because unlike "Vlád'a" , his name was not on his cassock. Anyway, thank you gentlemen for your kindness, your kindness and for the information provided during the visit. I sincerely appreciate you know, full of gratitude assured, really thank you from us to us three.

You are proof, if proof were needed, that is not church people as church people, and that, like contact lenses, assessing the proper attire to visit a holy place is in the eye of the evaluator.

Then the Church of St. Mary of the Angels ( "Kostel Panny Marie Andelska" ) is sober and austere, seriously. It consists of a single vessel atypically oriented north-south, just covered with a barrel vault (half-cylinder), and Chaplets sparingly embellished with 2 side. It is architecturally very far from what holds in terms of Prague baroque splendor, exuberance, fantasy. This small church here has no steeple, if an arrow to the Sanctus (cf. St. Ludmila ), and corresponds exactly to the spirit of austerity agenda officiating in its walls: "Ordo Fratrum Minorum Capuccinorum" says "Capuchins" . FYI, in the arrow is a bell hung in 1714, and melted by the famous master bell maker "Loew Mikuláš" I've already spoken at length about the St Mop.

Otherwise before continuing, I would remind atheists who rightly lost in the impenetrable maze of religious orders, that Capuchins are a branch of the Franciscans (Order of Friars Minor) licensee (the order) in the commercial register by St Francis of Assisi in 1210. The Capuchins were themselves patented in 1525 by Matthew Baschi (but papal record in 1528), and seceded from the Franciscan branch then too opulent to return to the simple joys of austerity, poverty, and begging that such of them were promoted in its early stages by St Francis of Assisi (see Antoine Henri de Bérault-Bercastel, Church History, p.47 "The Order of St. Francis, who had been so useful to him, having fallen in relaxation pitiful, God raised One of his monks named Matthew Baschi, to restore, with the fervor primitive apostolic poverty and the whole spirit of the apostolate "). The Capuchins arrived in Bohemia Nov. 13, 1599 on flight from Vienna 16 : 43, invited by the time archevêcardinal "Zbyněk Berka z Dubé Lipe" , who heard and create competition between the Catholic orders, and lower the price of the Mass to the delight of zouailles. Anecdote .

The archbishop of Prague "Zbyněk" was appointed to his post (Archbishop) of this ass Rudolf II in 1592, and because they get along like pigs at the fair, the emperor granted him the title of duke in 1606, and pushed his cardinalisation. Unfortunately but the poor moved 'died in March of that year at the age of 55 years and never had the pleasure of wearing the purple robe and funny hat that ended at the brand new National Theater and the costume caused a misfortune in the Czech version of the cage aux folles after the fall of communism-con. Ah yes ... Then the Capuchins. So they arrived in 1599, accompanied by the leader of the troupe, St Lawrence of Brindisi. But curiously, no one expected, also the first time they stayed with Breakfast, namely in the monastery of the Order of the Hospital of the crusaders in the red star at the end of Charles Bridge, Old Town side. But the hospitality of the hospital order had its limitations (particularly against beggars), and they quickly sought to accommodate the new viendus in a space provided for this purpose.

In 1600, Archbishop "Zbyněk" to Lobko bought a piece of their huge garden behind the Prague Castle, just below the fortifications of the city, he offered to the Capuchins who set to work to build their home. Mendicant order par excellence, They refused any outside assistance for the construction, if in-kind donations such as cash (had to pay for materials), and a little elbow grease to local fast-forward construction. But no architect, no electrician, plumber or any (even Plon) no one laid hands on the mortar. So, bin the buildings resemble what they look like, and it's great "chance that they survived up until day hui. The cornerstone of our church was laid May 23, 1600, and last July 7 next year. Not until the early morning of June 16, 1602 she was sanctified. Work continued But on the field until late 1602 (and beyond for extensions), where everything was really finished. 6 priests were able to move then confirmed (with a celebrity, z'allez see), 3 Catholic Taliban (students of theology) and 3 lay brothers (they pray less, so they have more time to cook the soup, do the ironing, etc.. ..).

Thus our monastery near Loreto is the oldest Capuchin monastery in the Czech Republic, and is still in office. Note that even if the predecessor "Zbyněk Berka z Dubé Lipe" , "Antonín Brus z Mohelnice ", made a first attempt at implantation of the Capuchin land of Bohemia, just after the Council of Trent which he participated, but this time his request was rejected by the chief of the order (Capuchin ) because that "the climate of Bohemia was not conducive" for his mercenaries . Who knows if he was referring to political conditions or atmospheric? FYI, in this period, only one third of the population declared Catholic and only Catholic cathedral was obedience throughout Prague. Also in 1599, "Zbyněk Berka z Dubé Lipe" supported his request for a blessing Pope, which put a different weight in the query that was well accepted. Needless to say that in these hostile conditions, the beginnings were rather laborious for our monks. But (and here I quote the words of the official order) "by their gentleness, humility, poverty and preaching of the Gospel, they quickly conquered the hearts of the people of Prague" . Alleluia.

From a viewpoint architectural and urban planning, the field consists of several parts built in different periods. The oldest portion, near the church, is a late Renaissance style and built around the garden Eden (courtyard in the abbeys). To the north is a spacious dining hall perpendicular to the kitchen that still has a stone basin carved in the year 1738, and for containing live fish (aqua-vivarium, because Friday is fried fish). On the first floor are spartan monks' cells: minimum space, decoration absent, low-speed Internet and common toilet in the yard. Was built around 1665 a second Garden of Eden (East), this time surrounded by buildings of baroque type means. Then between 1739 and 1748, we erected another third garden of Eden (even further east), bordered this time from the late Baroque style buildings (oh well it without real architect, do not expect the " Kaplický " either). The complex had its own pharmacy which nothing remains above the coffered ceiling painted (some of the furniture is in the national museum) as its own library still functioning, and provided with its baroque furniture (open to the public after registration with the monks).

The main altar in the church is the stigmatization of St. Francis of Assisi (I'll spare you the details), and was painted in 1602 by Paolo Piazza " himself becoming a monk under the same name " (Fra, poi Padre) Cosimo da Castelfranco " in 1598. According to another source, this table represent St. Francis to call Jesus the famous indulgence of Portiuncula . Hmm ... is not very clear, and it's not really important either. As against what is truly remarkable is that this seemingly innocuous table represents an exceptional example of Venetian Mannerism (in Prague), and deserves a few lines in this publishes. It was once the Venetian painter " Jacopo Palma il Giovane " (" Jacopo Negretti " said Palma the Younger), influence, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio ... the death of the fabulous Tintoretto (1594), The Young Palma became the fashionable painter of Venice, and darling of the art world in Europe, including (arts) our good jenny Rudolf II.

And although it does not attribute any disciple (in Palma), it does was none less students, including our Paolo Piazza " whose name soon came to the ears of the Emperor (Rudolf). Some will tell you that he (Paul) had no talent (at Palma ). to see, because he was nevertheless sufficiently to sell its crusts Rudolf, but also to Pope Paul V and the Doges of Venice. And not just scabs. For those who went to Rome, our painter was in charge of the decoration "Palazzo Borghese" (cf. Pope Paul V, whose real name "Camillo Borghese Don Camillo to his mates). He painted mainly (in 1616) historical and allegorical scenes, Mark Antony and Cleopatra in St Tropez, the Queen of Sheba in her bath, removal of juniper from the Seraglio ... but also portraits, friezes and a whole bunch of other ornaments. Unfortunately, the painting technique adopted by the devil ( "olio" in fresco ") bungled soon most of these works. Only 30 years later, flaking frescoes, and today there remains little more than junipers.

Anyway ... Paolo Piazza " arrived in Prague in 1600 (1601 according to another source) and took up residence in the monastery. There, he painted (among others) our stigmatized, then left for Munich, Graz (1604), Monaco (1604-1606), Innsbruck (1606), returning to Brno (1607) a few months, returning to Venice where you now find the largest number of his works (in the churches of San Polo, Santa Elena, SS. Giovanni e Paolo, or Santissimo del Redentore Island the Giudecca). Otherwise in Prague, he painted another Heaven and Hell (c. 1601) for this jerk of Rudolf, which destroyed the work a few years later, during one of his many fits of madness. Again on behalf of Rudolf, the Adoration of the Magi is also attributed to him (though not certain, however, according "Davide Portogruaro From: Paolo Piazza pittore cappuccino in Ateneo Veneto ) but I do not know where the table TODAY 'hui. And there were other, paintings made in Prague, but they were lost, stolen (manure Swedish), destroyed (idiot Rudolf), in short, are no longer visible. Also table of stigma St Francis of Assisi in Prague is not only exceptional because it was preserved, but also from the technical implementation. Note the yellow tones suffers cleverly mixed with shades of red-violet, typical of Venetian painting by Veronese and introduced (which Paul was most certainly the student).

Note the power of movements and especially light, inspired by the art of Tintoretto, the precursor of Impressionism. This painted a first coat in black and white only, in order to accentuate the shadows and lights it painted over. Well this same technique was used by single Paolo Piazza " on our table. The student-teacher relationship seems obvious. But back to our building.

The sacristy is one of the oldest parts of the church, yet I have not seen, so I can not tell you much. The pulpit dates from 1750, and has the characteristic element Chairs Franciscan: one arm alone, as mummified, holding in his hand a crucifix to remind the congregation that the preacher as god is everywhere, he sees everything, hears everything, and that since May 2, 2008, god is organic to comply with the circular on the exemplary nature of the state in use of products from organic farming in catering (remember that god eats and drinks). The organ loft was added in 1769, when the monks got tired of singing "a cappella".

From outside, the facade is just as sober as the rest of it. The eardrum is a right triangle presqu'isocèle, and everything is devoid of any statue of any column, any stucature. Only a fresco moult and cannon balls decorate this building (I will return it, the mural like cannonballs). In the first half of the eighteenth century, the area was connected to the Loretto (... complex, also in the administration of the Capuchins) by a "bridge of sighs" covered, because of austerity, poverty, things are going well for a while, but when it rains or it does -10 ° C, do not fool around either, kind.

In this period (first half of the eighteenth century), the nasturtium province of Bohemia was at its peak. Late seventeenth century there were 21 monasteries Capuchins, and in 1766 from an estimated 566 priests, 40 lay brothers and 203 students (all male). Worse came the reforms of Joseph II. Late eighteenth century, the monastery was on the blacklist (places of worship to close), and although it was not desecrated (for I know not why), the number of monks was drastically reduced.

After the First World War and the birth of the first Czechoslovak Republic, there was a renewed interest in the capucinerie, but even before the machine can not get properly under way, came the Second World War . Again, big slowdown spiritual. In 1944, the monastery was confiscated by the SS in order to establish a prison for German deserters. Worse in 1950, con-Communists put a final end in religious activity throughout the territory, which went timidly after the Prague Spring. She then proceeded to the basement (underground), informally and discreetly among electric guitars and long hair. The recovery time of the fall of communism-con (1989), but without much passion, youth preferring to turn to sex, drugs and rock'n roll freshly imported from the West. Today, there are only 41 ... 38 capuchins in our country.

Anecdotes and stories: May 25, 1632, during the war 30 years ago when the Saxons occupied Prague, the monks made the fart of the wall adjoining the city monastery, allowing armies Albrecht Wallenstein from entering the city and fuck the occupant Saxon at the door.

In May 1757, during the war 7 years, the Prussians besieged Prague bombarded with lots of balls of various sizes. Damage to the monuments were enormous, mostly on the side of "Hradcany" , "Pohořelec" and "Strahov" . Also in memory of suffering, people incrustèrent in affected buildings, the cannon balls fell on the city. And Capuchin monks were not not rest, because on the west and south facades, there are several dozens of balls they cast incrustèrent people here and there (see my pictures). So, I had to disappoint them, who thought that these balls were embedded in the walls during the Prussian fire. Well no, not at all, and it would violate basic laws of physics. These balls were intentionally placed there by Prague as a decoration to remember. Otherwise

history of the Capuchins who rang the bells and disrupted the concentration of imperial mathematician Tycho, you can read it here in an old publishes.

I would add just to complete this story, the famous painting of the Adoration of the Magi may Paolo Piazza " (see above) have been donated to the emperor by the Capuchin order to dispel his anger toward them.

And speaking table. There is one in the monastery, depicting a Christ with a crown of thorns on his head. Long it was believed to be a pure "Da Vinci" true (as St Shroud :-) laughing, I recently saw the documentary on the big TV). It turns out that no, this is a copy of a crust of Luis Morales , probably arriving in Prague through the Rudolf (high at the court of Spain). How this table without "real" value was done in capuchins? Mystery balls and gnomes. But it is likely that this guy would have an emperor traded to a Capuchin cons of their rind much more valuable, the fox.

And hey, the Rudolf, him again. Once Upon a Time in the City of "Rottenburg (Neckar)" ( Baden-Württemberg ), a statuette of the Virgin Mary, the Catholic faithful who adored him vowed an intense adoration. And everything was fine. Except that there arrived the Lutherans, and it was not cool for the statuette. Then came the Calvinists (the friends of Geneva Dana :-) and it was really tough for the statuette (like other works of art). Around the year 1550, those damn bastards iconoclasts made a great bonfire in which they cast full of paintings and sculptures of saints, because they were like that, the Calvinists. And among the works of art fucking fire, well it was our virgin Mary. But that same day, while the statuette was found in the fire long enough to be burned carbon as a slice of beef in a restaurant Czech bin that day was walking into town ( "Rottenburg" ) " January Barvitius " officially secretary and (bad) right arm of the incumbent Rudolf, informally advised in secret and vermin couillonneries notorious opportunist.

When he saw the beautiful object resistant to fire, he said hey, it could be as nice paperweight on his desk, and he recovered the statue carefully into the fire so as not to burn out the paws . Back in Prague, he finally realized that no, the Virgin Mary as the clipboard is not too early, that the Holy Spirit would be damned better, and as he lived not far from the Capuchins, the " Barvitius " made a gift of the statue to the monks who would use it probably better than him, the Virgin Mary. Except that the monks, well they were not bad, statuettes of the Virgin, they had not even asked the decor in their new monastery, as they placed her in the cellar saying they would use later, when the next flea market. And there began to happen miracles, stuff that no one explained to this day but are so miraculous that they came to the ears of the prankster Rudolf (you will find all details of Marian miracles in 4 volumes of the Jesuit "Guilielmus [Wilhelm] Gumppenberg, Atlas Marianus ... [Ingolstadt, 1657-1659]" ).

When more Jean ( "Barvitius" ) explained how he had found the statue, how it was fire retardant and impermeable to the folly, then we tried the Rudolf whisked his famous Collection "Wunderkammer" (or "Raritätenkammer" , most wineries). The same day, the object was with Rudolf, which was not altogether surprising: the Capuchins were held in tile and caressed his highness in the grain so as not to be expelled from their convent after the affair of bells "Tycho Brahe" (see above above). Well believe it or not, the same evening, the statue was returned to the door of the Capuchin monastery, the finger on the doorbell. When Father opened the door, he saw the Virgin Mary, there, all alone on the porch with no one around. Miracle (narrated by "Guilielmus [Wilhelm] Gumppenberg" ). But even before it was again put away in the cellar, "said Rudolf recover" his "statue in the early morning, and replaced it in his " Wunderkammer ". Ben the same evening Again, the front door of the Capuchin monastery, the finger on the doorbell. And all this circus was repeated 3 or 4 times before the Rudolf capitulates, he decides to leave blank the monks, because he had other, virgins, more beautiful and perhaps even more blank as this who would not submit.

The Emperor naive (or disturbed), believers in miracles (as in everything that we believe would do him for that matter), offered clothing in gold and precious stones so that the statue is foolishly dressed as stupid small child Jesus of Prague . The monks, meanwhile they were convinced that the angels had brought the sacred sculpture, they also made him build an altar in the years 1680-1690, which was later supplemented with rococo-funny little angels. And to capture this story, the fabulous " Petr Brandl " the painted on canvas (the necdote). The 2 subjects, the statuette as the canvas, are still in the church of the Virgin Mary of the Angels (see my photos), but the resemblance is to say the least ... Let's say that Peter indulged in some personal interpretation specific to any talented artist (see portraits of Picasso) ... Worse still you will find the statue and the monks fresco on the pediment of the church, outside, visible from the place of Loreto, but I know the author. And finally, it is mentioned in various sources (see "Guilielmus [Wilhelm] Gumppenberg" but "Annals Capucinorum provinciae Bohemiae Austriae and Styriae, 1602" ) that the baby Jesus in her arms held by the Virgin Mary of "Rottenburg (Neckar)" taught the Hebrews to St. Lawrence of Brindisi Prague during his stay so he can more easily convert the Jewish people to Catholicism.

Full delirium, however, corroborated by Louis-Gabriel Michaud in "Universal Biography ancient and modern, T. XXIII, p.448. He taught at the same time oriental languages in order to work more effectively with the conversion of the Jews" .

Otherwise a small room is specially devoted to a creche, which was also the purpose of the visit of the mob suspect. But be careful when I say a nursery is not any at all either, attention. This is a crib in 1780, composed of fifty figures that humans are size (around 175 cm). They (miniatures) are in paper, straw, plaster, colored in period clothing and stained with pine resin for conservation. You will see the Magi, shepherds, a baby Jesus with his virgin mother and his step dad virgin, sheep (which are the 2 main real skin, with real wool top), a dog, and any many other stooges. One of the monks spent a decade at all this nice stuff fabricoter, and now people are unimaginable in the tails Christmas season to see this unusual work. Curiosity: it is to the crib, a small cassette for receiving donations from good people, just to improve standards of Capuchins. If you drop a coin into the slot (even Euros), the 2 sheep before the den of Jesus will begin to bleat in a hoarse voice (due to smoke from Havana to god, cf. Serge Gainsbourg), and moving his head from top to bottom and from left to right as to say, "thank you, but it's not enough, slip yet another piece" .

Today is automatic, but before we invented electricity, a monk was standing in a back room, and wink-wink of his room, he drew a hand on a string to set in motion the 2 cattle, and the other (hand) he pulled the tail of a sheep in order to produce the beeeh Synthetic beeeh today. Otherwise the origin of the nursery would be more complicated. During the restoration of the Virgin Mary (one of the crib), it was discovered his body inside padding made of paper, dated 1725. Suddenly, the crib could be made by the monks from Naples who settled in that time in Prague. Regardless, it's a beautiful work well funny, definitely worth a look.

Ben here, so if you switch on the side of the Loretto or the new world, turn to see an eye in the church of St. Mary of the Angels in Prague, sometimes it would open during a mass (and z'avez not even need to dress your 31). And before concluding, I wish to thank once again the master " Vlád'a " like the good friar who allowed us this impromptu visit. St. Mary of here: 50 ° 5'24 .19 "N, 14 ° 23'26 .67" E.